Free Fly: A PORTAL Chronicles Novel (The PORTAL Chronicles) by Melissa Aden Page A

with Sal to stay a step ahead of Divaldo, explaining why he and Sophie had moved every few years or so. Horrified to find his daughter in such danger now, he agreed to the proposed plan with great sadness. He thanked me profusely and, promising that he’d immediately call Sal to discuss travel plans, we went our separate ways.
    Upon arriving home that night, I got a call from Sal. Per his instruction, we met the next day and he offered me the job of Sophie’s protector at Brightman Academy. He disclosed that he’d known of her predicament for some time now and had placed Benson and me undercover at Brightman two years ago with the intent of eventually charging Sophie to our care. He briefed me on a prophecy Sophie’s mom had made about her and the possible powers she’d receive upon being awakened, finally illuminating me to the full reason Divaldo hated her so. According to him, Sophie was the only saving grace the agency had left and the assignment was a great honor.
    Discouraged by how hard it would be not to come into contact with Sophie while attending the same school, I told him I’d need time to think about it. What Sal told me then came as a shock: interaction was allowed. I would be given liberty to operate the mission how I saw fit, allowing me to befriend Sophie if I wished.
    The mere thought of it made me sick. First off, I was clearly infatuated with the girl and genuinely cared for her. What if she didn’t like me? Would I care? Would I be hurt? Would I be able to handle it? Either way, it would undeniably affect the mission.
    Secondly, it seemed wrong to befriend Sophie after learning so much about her. Was it dishonest? What if I slipped and said something tipping her off to the fact that I knew more than I should? For any other mission, I wouldn’t bat an eye at the instruction, but I couldn’t do it now — not with her. She was too special. I refused to deceive her.
    Thirdly, what if she recognized me? I had gotten too close that day in her father’s class, and she’d possibly seen me at the grocery store or an ill-fated stoplight. Then again, being too lazy to partake in grooming rituals, I had sported shaggy hair and a beard over the summer. In fact, my mom probably wouldn’t have recognized me, and I’d since cut my hair and shaved.
    I still hadn’t given Sal a straightforward answer when I got the call from Dr. Smitherson. Begrudgingly agreeing to help him, I waited for Sophie’s arrival and was utterly shocked to spot her in my mom’s car of all places.
    I was greatly irritated by other’s failure to stick to the plan. I was told Sophie would arrive in a taxicab. How was I supposed to keep Sophie safe if no one else followed the rules? But at first sight of her, my anger dissipated, leaving one thought remaining: She’s so beautiful.
    I saw Sophie’s dumbstruck face through a small patch of frost worn away on Mom’s car window — all flushed cheeks, big, dark eyes, and gaping mouth. Sound ceased to exist as I came to a mental standstill.
    Over the past three months, I’d found the light at the end of the tunnel. Sophie was that light — that brightness in the midst of the darkness of my grief, depression and doubt — unintentionally and unknowingly pulling me from the pit of despair. It was my mission to protect Sophie from harm, but so far, it only seemed like she had been saving me — yet another glaring reason not to accept the mission to protect her at Brightman. But in that moment, seeing her look so helpless — like a scared little girl who needed a guardian to defend her and show her the way — helped me to see that she needed me just as I needed her.
    It was then that I accepted the mission and that being assigned to her was no mistake. It was meant to be. Dio must have known it was exactly what I needed, but did he know she’d end up meaning so much to me? Did he foresee how I would grow to deeply like her, maybe even love her? He must have, for I’d been taught